Cellular Telephone Case

ABSTRACT

A cellular telephone case having an integrated clip is provided. The case has body, a clip extending from the body and a sidewall that forms a cavity to receive the cellular telephone. The clip applies pressure to a surface of the cellular telephone, and may clip the phone to various objects. Further the clip may receive cards such as credit cards and licenses.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to cases. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to a case for a cellular telephone.

2. Description of Related Art

Cellular telephones have become pervasive in society, with a largepercentage of the population having one. As such, cellular telephonetechnology has developed rapidly because of the high demand of suchdevices. This technological advance has resulted in fairly fragile,expensive devices. Moreover, many of these cellular telephones areheavily used, experience a good deal of wear and tear, and are inconstant danger of being dropped.

Further, the advance in technology of newer cellular telephones has ledto an enhanced desire to easily access phones. Often, the phones can becumbersome to access when in a pocket, purse, or bag.

Therefore, what is needed is a cellular telephone case that may protectvaluable and fragile cellular telephones. Further there is needed acellular telephone case that allows the telephone to be stored and beeasily accessible to a user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter of this application may involve, in some cases,interrelated products, alternative solutions to a particular problem,and/or a plurality of different uses of a single system or article.

In one aspect, a cellular telephone case is provided. The cellulartelephone case may comprise a body, a clip integrally formed with thebody that extends substantially parallel from the body, and a sidewallextending from the body. The sidewall may extend substantiallyperpendicular to the inner face of the body. The sidewall may also forma cavity of the case configured to receive a cellular phone. The clipmay be constructed such that it exerts a force on the cellular phonewhen received in the case. Further, the clip may be constructed of afirst rigid material and a second flexible material disposed over anouter surface of the clip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of an embodiment of the cellulartelephone case.

FIG. 2 provides a front view of an embodiment of the cellular telephonecase.

FIG. 3 provides a rear view of an embodiment of the cellular telephonecase.

FIG. 4 provides a top view of an embodiment of the cellular telephonecase.

FIG. 5 provides a bottom view of an embodiment of the cellular telephonecase.

FIG. 6 provides a side view of an embodiment of the cellular telephonecase.

FIG. 7 provides a side view of an embodiment of the cellular telephonecase.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appendeddrawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodimentsof the invention and does not represent the only forms in which thepresent invention may be constructed and/or utilized. The descriptionsets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing andoperating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments.

Generally, the present invention concerns a case for a cellulartelephone (hereinafter “cell phone”). The case may comprise a body, aclip extending from the body, and a sidewall extending from the body andforming an outer perimeter of the case. In varying embodiments, the casemay form apertures to accommodate features of an outer surface of thecell phone itself, such as an aperture for a headphone jack.

The case contemplated herein may be constructed and arranged to receivevarious types of cell phones in various embodiments. For example, oneembodiment of the case contemplated herein may be configured to receivean iPhone® 4 or 4S. Other embodiments of the case may be sized toreceive Droid® or Samsung® phones. It should be understood that whilethe case herein is generally contemplated to be used for touch screenbased “smart phones,” its scope is not limited to any particular cellphone model, style, or configuration.

The body of the case may provide a central support for a clip and/or asidewall of the case. In one embodiment, the body may form a top rearportion of the case. The body may be constructed of any materialsuitable for cellular phone case usage. For example, the body may beconstructed of plastic or other synthetic material, rubber, compositematerials, and the like.

In another embodiment, the body may be formed from a rigid plastic layerto provide rigidity to the case. In a further embodiment this rigidlayer may have a softer flexible layer disposed over its surface on anexterior of the case, forming a multi-layered body.

The body may form a clip that extends from the body, along the length ofthe case. The clip may be configured to be substantially parallel withthe body and in substantially the same plane as the body, with a widthless than a width of the case. When a phone is inserted within the case,the clip may be configured to be approximately parallel to a rear of thephone, and configured to apply a force against the rear of the phonewith at least part of its surface.

In one embodiment, the clip may be comprised of a substantially rigidmaterial. This material may be constructed to apply sufficient forceagainst the phone to hold the case in place when clipped to an object,but not so rigid as to prevent clipping of the case to an object. In afurther embodiment the clip may be constructed of the same material asthe body. In still another embodiment the body may be thicker than theclip, allowing the clip to be more flexible than the body.

In another embodiment, the clip may be formed from a substantially rigidplastic layer and may have a softer, flexible layer disposed over itsexterior surface, forming a multi-layered clip.

In a further embodiment, a surface of the clip configured to contact aphone when inserted into the case may comprise a section of paddingmaterial. This material may pad the phone against force exerted by theclip. The padding material may also increase friction between the phoneand the clip. In one embodiment, the padding material may be positionedat a center of the width of the clip. In another embodiment, the paddingmaterial may be formed as a small circular pad.

The clip may be formed in any way that allows at least a portion of theclip surface to exert a force on a phone inserted within the case. Assuch, varying clip curvatures, shapes, lengths and sizes arecontemplated by this invention. In one embodiment, the clip may extendfrom the body at a top portion of the case to nearly the end of thecase, but not to the end. In this embodiment, clipping may befacilitated because a spacing is provided between the clip and the endof the case to insert the clipped item.

In another embodiment, the clip may comprise a curvature along itslength. In one such embodiment, the clip may curve outwardly, bringingits surface away from a phone surface at a middle portion. At an endportion of the clip, the clip may curve inwardly, towards the phone. Ina further embodiment, this clip may again curve outwardly at its distalend providing a spacing between its surface at the distal end and thephone.

A sidewall may extend from an outer perimeter of the body and form anexterior perimeter of the case. The sidewall may extend from the bodysuch that a bottom edge of the sidewall is attached to the body. Thesidewall may be configured to snugly wrap around a cell phone that isinserted within the case. In one embodiment, the sidewall may beconfigured to be substantially perpendicular to an inner surface of thebody and clip. In another embodiment, a height of the sidewall may begreater than the height of the cell phone intended to be inserted withinthe case.

The sidewall may be constructed of any material capable of surroundingand containing a cell phone. For example, materials of which thesidewall may be made include synthetics such as silicone, plastics andthe like, rubber, and foam rubber, among others. In one embodiment, thesidewall may be formed from a material different from the material ofthe body. In another embodiment, the sidewall may be formed of a softflexible material that may also be disposed over an exterior surface ofthe body.

In one embodiment, the body and sidewall may form an aperture into whichthe clip may pass to allow the clip to directly contact a rear of aphone inserted into the case.

In another embodiment, the rigid material of the body may extend into aportion of the sidewall.

A first flange may extend from a top edge of the sidewall. The flangemay be substantially perpendicularly to the sidewall, and substantiallyparallel to the body and clip. Further, the flange may be formed tocover a small portion of a front of a cell phone inserted into thecover. In one embodiment, the first flange may extend from the entiretop edge of the sidewall.

A second flange may extend from at least part of a bottom edge of thesidewall. The second flange may form an inner surface substantiallyparallel to a top surface of the body and clip. Further, the flange maybe formed to cover a small portion of a rear of the cellular phoneinserted into the cover.

A plurality of apertures may be formed by the base, clip and/or sidewalldepending on portions of the cell phone that need to be accesseddirectly by a user.

In one embodiment, a central rear aperture may be formed to allowviewing of a logo of a phone manufacturer. Depending on the location ofthe logo, the central rear aperture may be formed by the body, the clip,or partially by the body, and partially by the clip. In a furtherembodiment, the rigid material of the body and/or clip may be exposedabout a perimeter case forming the central rear aperture.

In another embodiment, the body may form a camera aperture. The cameraaperture may be positioned about a camera lens of the cell phone toallow functioning of the camera. In one embodiment a glossy finish maybe applied to an inner surface of the part of the body forming thecamera aperture.

In another embodiment, the case may form a headphone aperture. Typicallythis headphone aperture may be formed by the sidewall, however otherportions of the case may form it depending on configuration of the phoneto be covered by the case. The headphone aperture may be sized to allowpassage of a male headphone plug through the aperture to be received bythe corresponding female jack.

In yet another embodiment, the case may form a ring adjustment aperturefor phones having external controls for a ringer. Typically this ringadjustment aperture may be formed by the sidewall, however otherportions of the case may form it depending on configuration of the cellphone to be received by the case. The ring adjustment aperture may besized to allow manual manipulation of the external control of the phone.

In still another embodiment, the case may form a power input aperture toallow charging of a battery of the phone. Typically this power inputaperture may be formed by the sidewall, however other portions of thecase may form it depending on configuration of the phone to be coveredby the case. The power input aperture may be sized to allow passage of apower input plug for mating with a power inlet port of the phone. Insome further embodiments, the power input plug may further be sized tonot cover a speaker positioned on an outer surface of the phone, thespeaker being adjacent to the power inlet port of the phone.

In yet another embodiment, the case may form a touch screen aperture toallow manipulation of a touch screen of the phone. The touch screenaperture may be formed by the sidewall and may leave nearly the entirefront face of a touch screen phone open and accessible by a user. Thetouch screen aperture may be formed by the sidewall in one embodiment,or by the sidewall and first flange in another embodiment.

In still another embodiment, the case may form a rear aperture betweenthe body, clip and sidewall. The rear aperture may allow the clip tocontact at least a portion of a rear of the cell phone directly. In afurther embodiment, the rear aperture may be sized to receive a creditcard, driver's license, or other similarly sized card. In thisembodiment, the card may be secured by the case by being disposedbetween the clip and cell phone, through the aperture, and may be heldin place by frictional forces between the clip and the cell phone.

In further embodiments, the case may contain a plurality of buttons tomanipulate phone buttons on an exterior of a phone while still coveringthe phone and phone buttons. These buttons may be formed into the casein any manner that allows force to be applied from the case button ontothe phone button. In embodiments where the case is relatively soft, thecase may simply be marked with an indicator of where to push, and thebuttons may be activated through the case upon application of sufficientforce. In embodiments where the case is harder, a flexible portion maybe disposed around a case button to connect the button to the case, theflexible portion may allow the case button to be moved in and out. Whenthe case button is positioned over the phone button, activation of thecase button may in turn activate the phone button.

In one embodiment, the case may comprise a volume adjust button for aphone having exterior buttons for adjustment of volume. The volumeadjust button of the case may be configured to interact with the volumeadjust button of the phone. Typically the volume adjust button may beformed by the sidewall, however other portions of the case may form itdepending on configuration of the phone to be covered by the case. Insome embodiments, there may be two or more volume adjust buttons.

In another embodiment, the case may comprise a power button for a phonehaving an exterior button for turning the power of the phone on and off.The power button of the case may be configured to interact with thepower button of the phone. Typically the power button may be formed bythe sidewall, however other portions of the case may form it dependingon configuration of the phone to be covered by the case.

In one embodiment of operation, a cell phone may be inserted through atouch screen aperture formed by the sidewall, and may be adjusted intoplace such that the sidewall fits snugly about the outer perimeter ofthe cell phone. In another embodiment of operation, a cell phone may beinserted through a rear aperture formed by the body and sidewall, andmay be adjusted into place such that the sidewall fits snugly about theouter perimeter of the cell phone.

A stand may further be provided to allow support and display of thephone. The stand may be designed to mate with the clip of the case tosupport and display the phone.

In one embodiment, the stand may comprise a base, a first and secondfoot formed into the base, and a face extending upwardly from the base.

The first foot may be positioned at a rear of the base, away from theface. The first foot may extend from the base and may provide supportfor the stand.

The second foot may be positioned at a front of the base, near the face.The second foot may extend from the base, slightly past the face andprovide support for the stand.

The face of the stand may be integrally formed into the base, and extendupwardly from the base. The face is configured to mate with the clip ofthe case to support the case and phone therein. In one embodiment, theface may have a width greater than the case and a height narrow enoughto slide under the clip, such that the face is held between the clip andthe case. In another embodiment, the face may have a width less than thecase and a height narrow enough to slide under the clip, such that theface is held between the clip and the cell phone rear. The face may becurved. In one embodiment the curvature of the face provides properpositioning of the case and phone to balance and stabilize the stand aswell as providing a desirable display angle.

The stand may further comprise a support post extending from the face toan opposite side of the base from the face. The support post may providerigidity to the stand and support the face of the stand.

Turning now to FIG. 1 a perspective view of an embodiment of thecellular telephone case is provided. The case has a body 101 positionedat a top rear of the case. The clip 102 is integrally formed with, andextends from the body 101. The clip 102 may extend substantiallyparallel to the body 101 but may be curved slightly. A sidewall 103extends substantially perpendicularly from the body 101. The sidewall103 extends beyond the body 101 to form a substantially rectangularouter perimeter of the case. The sidewall 103 forms a cavity 106 intowhich a cellular phone (not shown) may be received by the case. Thesidewall 103 configuration, size, and shape may vary depending on theparticular cellular telephone intended to fit within the case.

A flange 107 extends perpendicularly from a rear edge of the sidewall103. The flange 107 may aid in defining the cavity 106 into which thecellular phone may be received. A camera aperture 108 is formed by thebody 101. The camera aperture 108 is positioned to allow operation of acamera of an exterior of a cellular telephone (not shown). A powerbutton 104 may be positioned on the sidewall 103. The power button 104is positioned on the sidewall 103 to interact with a power button of thecellular telephone (not shown). A headphone aperture 105 is formed bythe sidewall 103. The headphone aperture 105 is positioned to allowaccess to a headphone jack of a cellular phone (not shown) and sized toallow passage of a head phone plug into the headphone jack.

FIG. 2 shows a front view of an embodiment of the cellular telephonecase. A front face of the body 201 can be seen. Extending from the frontface of the body 201 is a front face of the clip 202. A camera aperture108 is formed by the body 201. A front flange 207 extends from a topedge of a sidewall (not shown). The flange 207 is sized and configuredto extend slightly over a front surface of a cellular telephone insertedwithin the cavity 106 formed by the case. A portion of a rear sidewall107 extends from a rear edge of the sidewall (not shown), extending intothe cavity 106 to stabilize the case on a phone inserted within thecavity 106.

FIG. 3 provides a rear view of an embodiment of the cellular telephonecase. The case has a body 101 positioned at a top rear of the case. Theclip 102 is integrally formed with, and extends from the body 101. Theclip 102 may extend substantially parallel to the body 101 but may becurved slightly. A sidewall (not shown) forms a cavity 106 into which acellular phone (not shown) may be received by the case. The cavity 106size and shape may vary depending on the particular cellular telephoneintended to fit within the case. A flange 107 may extend perpendicularlyfrom a rear edge of the sidewall 103. The flange 107 may aid in definingthe cavity 106 into which the cellular phone may be received. A cameraaperture 108 is formed by the body 101. The camera aperture 108 ispositioned to allow operation of a camera of an exterior of a cellulartelephone (not shown).

FIG. 4 provides a top view of an embodiment of the cellular telephonecase. A sidewall 103 of the case forms a power button 104 and aheadphone aperture 105. The power button 104 and headphone aperture 105are sized and positioned to match up with corresponding power buttonsand headphone jacks of a cellular phone intended to fit within the case.A portion of the clip 102 can be seen extending away from the case.

FIG. 5 provides a bottom view of an embodiment of the cellular telephonecase. A sidewall 103 of the case forms a power input aperture 501. Thepower input aperture is sized and positioned to allow access to a powerinput jack of a cellular telephone intended to fit within the case. Aportion of the clip 102 can be seen extending away from the case.

FIG. 6 provides a side view of an embodiment of the cellular telephonecase. A sidewall 103 extends across the length of the case. A portion ofthe clip 102 can be seen extending away from the case.

FIG. 7 provides a side view of an embodiment of the cellular telephonecase. A sidewall 103 forms volume adjustment buttons 701. The volumeadjustment buttons 701 are sized and positioned to align with volumeadjustment buttons of a cellular telephone received within the case (notshown). A portion of the clip 102 can be seen extending away from thecase.

While several variations of the present invention have been illustratedby way of example in preferred or particular embodiments, it is apparentthat further embodiments could be developed within the spirit and scopeof the present invention, or the inventive concept thereof. However, itis to be expressly understood that such modifications and adaptationsare within the spirit and scope of the present invention, and areinclusive, but not limited to the following appended claims as setforth.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cellular telephone case comprising: a body; aclip, integrally formed with the body and extending substantiallyparallel from the body; a sidewall, extending from the body and forminga cavity of the case, the cavity sized to receive and secure a cellulartelephone; wherein the clip is formed such that at least part of aninner surface of the clip exerts a force on the cellular telephone whenreceived in the cavity; and wherein the clip comprises a first rigidmaterial, and a second flexible material, the second flexible materialdisposed over an outer surface of the clip.
 2. The cellular telephonecase of claim 1 wherein the clip forms a first outwardly curved sectionand a second inwardly curved section, the first outwardly curved sectionbeing at an approximate middle of a length of the clip, the secondinwardly curved section being at a distal end of the length of the clip.3. The cellular telephone case of claim 1 wherein the body is formed ofthe first rigid material.
 4. The cellular telephone case of claim 3wherein the sidewall is at least partially formed of the first rigidmaterial.
 5. The cellular telephone case of claim 1 wherein the sidewallfurther comprises a first flange extending perpendicularly from a topedge of the sidewall.
 6. The cellular telephone case of claim 1 whereinthe sidewall forms a touch screen aperture at a front of the case. 7.The cellular telephone case of claim 1 wherein the body has a thicknessgreater than a thickness of the clip.
 8. The cellular telephone case ofclaim 1 wherein the sidewall and body form a rear aperture, the rearaperture allowing direct contact between the cellular telephone receivedwithin the case and the clip, the rear aperture sized to receive acredit card between the cellular telephone and the clip.
 9. The cellulartelephone case of claim 1 wherein the body is constructed of the firstrigid material, and the second flexible material, the second flexiblematerial disposed over an outer surface of the body.
 10. The cellulartelephone cover of claim 1 further comprising a circular protrusionextending from the at least part of the inner surface of the clip thatexerts a force on the cellular telephone when received in the cavity.11. The cellular telephone case of claim 10 wherein the circularprotrusion is formed by the second flexible material.
 12. The cellulartelephone cover of claim 1 wherein the sidewall forms an aperture, theaperture sized to allow access to a cellular telephone element on a sideof the cellular telephone.
 13. The cellular telephone case of claim 1wherein the sidewall forms a button, the button sized and configured tobe positioned over a button of a cellular telephone when the cellulartelephone is received by the case, the button of the sidewall configuredto depress the button of the cellular telephone when the button of thesidewall is in a depressed position.
 14. A cellular telephone casecomprising: a body, formed of a first rigid material; a clip, integrallyformed with the body and extending substantially parallel to an innerface of the body; a sidewall, extending from the body substantiallyperpendicular to the inner face of the body and forming a cavity of thecase, the cavity sized to receive and secure a cellular telephone,wherein the sidewall forms a touch screen aperture at a front of thecase; a first flange extending perpendicularly from a top edge of thesidewall; wherein the clip is formed such that at least part of an innersurface exerts a force on the cellular telephone when received in thecavity, the clip comprising a first outwardly curved section and asecond inwardly curved section, the first outwardly curved section beingat a middle of a length of the clip, the second inwardly curved sectionbeing at a distal end of the length of the clip; and wherein the clip isconstructed of the first rigid material, and a second flexible material,the second flexible material disposed over an outer surface of the clip;wherein the sidewall and body form a rear aperture, the rear apertureallowing direct contact between a cellular telephone and the clip, therear aperture sized to receive a credit card between the cellulartelephone and the clip; a circular protrusion extending from the atleast part of the clip inner surface that exerts a force on the cellulartelephone when received in the cavity; the sidewall forming a headphoneaperture at a top of the case, a ring adjust aperture on a side of thecase, and a power input aperture at a bottom of the case; and the baseforming a camera aperture on a rear of the case.